Cushion



May 18, 1943 M. s. KAR-PEN CUSHION Filed Sept. 30, 1940 l fA l Wr??? Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application leicr No. 359,141

This invention relates to a cushion, and more particularly to a cushion provided with a resilient body and an' insert therein of a resiliency greater than that of the body.

An object of this invention is to provide in a resilient cushion greater strength and support at the portions thereof which engage the bodyof the user. Another'object is to increase the supv the cushion within "the ring-shaped insert being softer than the insert. il. further object is to provides foam rubber cushion body equipped with an insert of foam rubber of a greater density than that of the body.

Other features and advantages will appear from the following specification and drawing, in which- Fig 1 is a plan view of my improved cushion: and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along -the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Resilient cushions, as is well known, tend to lose their resiliency and supporting power after a substantial period of use. If the cushion is made harder and more resilient to provide greater wearing qualities, it is less comfortable and hence less desirable. On the other hand, a soft cushion, not being possessed of extreme resiliency, is not only subject to greater wear, but does not provide as satisfactory a support as does the harder cushion. The central portion of the body of the cushion is, of course, subject to greater pressure and hence to greater wear as the cushion l is used.

By means of this invention, I have found that it is possible to provide the resiliency and wearing qualities of a hard cushion while at the same time retaining the comfort of a soft cushion.

In the speciilcvembodiment of my invention described herein, a cushion I of any suitable size or shape is provided with an upper surface- II, a vertical front wall I2, and a substantially rear wail I3. Any suitable 'or conventional cushion structure may be used. Preferably the upper surface II of the cushion I0 is curved downwardly near the central portion of the cushion between the front and rear walls. However, if desired, this surface II may be flat.

The body I4 of the'cushion I0 may be made of any of the conventional' resilient materials used in cushions. If desired, it may consist of foam rubber (sponge rubber) as shown. The foam rubber body may be provided with recesses I5 in the lower portion thereof, the recesses being cast in the body and producing a lighter cushion without substantially weakening the same.

The upper surface Il ofthe body I4 is provided with a recess I6' which is preferably in the form of a channel cut into the surface II. The channel may be of any desired size or shape. Preferably the channel is endless and is substantially elliptical in shape as shown.

Within the. channel or recess I8 is received a ring-shaped insert I1 which is of such a shape as to fit within the channel and fill the same. The depth of the insert should be such that the top surface I8 is aligned with the top surface II of the body I4, thus providing a smooth top surface for the cushion.

By a ring insert, as referred to herein, I mean to include any endless strip, whether or not the ring is circular in shape. y

The insert I 1 should be of a material of greater resiliency than that of the body of the cushion. Preferably the insert is composed of foam rubber of a greater density than the foam rubber used in the cushion body I4. If desired, the base of the insert I1 may be secured to the body I4 of the cushion by cement or other suitable means.

If desired, the insert may consist of an elliptical plate rather than an apertured ring, and the recess in the upper surface II of the cushion I0 may be changed to correspond to this shape of the insert.

When the cushion is used, the body of the user is received on the insert I1 and the portion of the cushion body Which is Within the ring-shaped insert. The insert, possessing greater resiliency, furnishes the primary support for the body, while the portion of the cushion Within the insert, being softer and less resilient, aids greatly in increasing the comfort of the user. Thus the primary support furnished by the cushion is through the ring-shaped insert which engages the edge of the portion of the body of the user which is in contact with the cushion.

While there are shown and described certain embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in' the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from.

the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is intended to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

i. A cushion of the character described comprising a continuous and integral resilient body equipped with a recess in the upper portion thereof in the form of an endless channel, and a resilient ring insert received in said channel, said insert being of a greater resiliencey than said body.

2. A cushion of the character described comprising a continuous and integral resilient body equipped with a recess in the central portion of the upper surface thereof, said recess being in the form of substantially elliptical endless channel,

and a ring-shaped insert of a resiliency greater than that of -said body, said insert being of a shape conforming to the shape of said channel and being received within said channel, the upper surface of said insert being aligned with the upper surface of said body adjacent thereto to provide a smooth, fiat, top surface for said cushion.

3. A cushion of the character described comprising a. continuous and integral resilient foam rubber body equipped with a recess in the upper surface thereof, said recess being in the shape of a substantially elliptical endless channel, and a resilient ring insert of foam rubber of a higher density than said body, said insert being of a shape to conform to the shape of said channel and being received within said channel, the upper surface of said insert being aligned with the upper surface of said body adjacent thereto to provide a smooth, flat, top surface for said cushion.

MARTIN S. KARPEN. 

